Method of regulating electrically-operated mechanism



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

} M. J. WIGHTMAN. METHOD OF REGULATING ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED MBOHANISM.

No. 435,958. PaAzentead Sept. 9, 1890.

Fig/i].

ATTESTII- INVENTUHI 1 I MTM'M JWyM/nan,

(No Model.)

5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

M. J. WIGHTMAN.

IN-VEN T UF; 1 Merle JWa yht/naw ATTEST:

n12 "(WW5 ruins co., moramu (No Model.) 5 Shear-Sheet a.

M. J. WI-GHTMAN.

- METHOD OF REGULATING BLBGTRIOALLY OPERATED MECHANISM. No.. 435,958. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

2 F Ej'. 5- 2 m t% J w, d A B2 l c I v .I

[NYE/ TOR Merle I Wail/m ATTORNEY.

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4.

M. J. WIGHTMAN. METHOD OF RBGULATING ELBCTRIGALLY OPERATED MECHANISM. No. 435,958. Patented Sept. 9,1890..

Fig: 7.

.4 TTORNE Y.

WITNESSES:

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

M. J. WIGHTMAN. METHOD OF REGULATING ELEGTRIGALLY OPERATED MECHANISM.

No. 435,958. Patented Sept. 9, 1890.

Fig 1Z1 WITNESSES: mvmron U N MerZeJW'gktmmz v1 BY ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MERLE J. XVIGHTMAN, OF LYNN, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE THOM- SON-HOUSTON ELECTRIC COMPANY, OF CONNECTICUT.

METHOD OF REGULATING ELECTRlCALLY-OPERATED MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 435,958, dated September 9, 1890. Application filed September 9, 1889. Serial No. 323,365. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.- My invention is illustrated in the accom- Be it known that l, MERLE J. VIGHTMAN, panying drawings, in whicha citizen of the United States, residing at Figures 1, 2, 3, and i are diagrams illus- Lynn, in the county of Essex, State of Massatrating the various modifications of my inven- 5 chusetts, have invented certain new and use tion. Fig. 5 is a diagram illustrating apparaful Improvements in the Method of Regutus that can be used in practicing my invenlating Electrically-Operated Mechanism, of tion. Fig.6isadiagrammatic View of amodiwhich the following is a specification. fied form of apparatus. Fig. 7 is a diagram My invention consists in providing for any of the circuits in a switch mechanism of still 10 machinery which it is desired to operate by another form of construction that maybe used Y electricity with varying speed and power two in practicing my invention. Fig. 8 is a plan electric motors, which are connected to the view of the switch mechanism whose circuits machine so as to co-operatein driving it. As are diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 3. it is well known that the regulation of an elec- Fig. 9 is an end view of the switch-cylinder I 5 trio motor depends upon the relation between shown in Fig.8. Fig. 10 is a perspective view the direct and the counter electro motive of one of the spring-contact disks of the switchforces, it becomes necessary on a constant pocylinder. tential circuit that a motor must be regulated Referring to Fig. 1 of the drawings,X and in its speed either by varying its counter elec- Y represent the two main lines of a constant 20 tro-motive force with relation to the speed, or potential circuit.

else byinsertingaresistance to compensate for A and B represent two electric motors. any decrease of counter electro-motive force A and B represent the field-magnets, and when the said counter electro-motive force A B represent the armatures of the respectcorresponds with the speed of the motor and ive motors. In Fig. 1 these motors are shown 25 cannot be varied independently thereof. In connected in series with switches for. changthe method which I have invented the two ing connections as may be necessary in cararmatures constitute each a source of electrorying out my method. A switch is also promotive force, which may be placed either in vided for cutting out more or less of the fieldseries or in multiple are, so that the total clecmagnet coils of motor A. The circuit may 0 tro-motive force of the motors may be varied be traced from line X to switch I), to contact independently of the speed of the driven f, to magnet A of the motor A, and by switch mechanism and no artificial resistance be rea m to the second motor B. The two motors quired. will thus be in series and adapted for the My invention therefore consists in a method lowest rate of speed. By operating switch 5 by which different degrees of speed in the lever b more or less of the coils of A will be driven mechanism may be obtained by, first, thrown out of circuit. This will tend to inplacing the two motors in series; secondly, crease the speed by decreasing the total counregulating the counter electro-motive force of ter electro-motive force of the two motors. b one or both of the motors by changes in the may be moved until substantially all of the 40 field-magnet strength so as to produce a coils of A are cut out, when the counter elechigher rate of speed; thirdly, short-circuittro-motive force of A will be substantially ing one motor after its counterelectro-motive reduced to zero, and itmay then be safely force has been reduced to a point where the short-circuited without producing any are at short-circuiting maybe accomplished without the contact. This will be accomplished by 5 sparkingfiourthly, connecting the two motors turning the switch 01 onto the contact-plate 5 in multiple arc with theirnormal field-magnet m, when only the motor I) will be actually in strength, and, fifthly, regulating the field-magcircuit. net strength of one or both of said motors to The method which has thus far been deobtain the highest rate of speed. More or less scribed is one which may be employed in any .50 of these steps may be taken, as desired. instance where it is desired to remove one I00 motor from series-connection with another motor without producing sparking at the contact, as would be the case where an active armature is suddenly short-circuited.

5 The next step in the method of regulating will be to place motor A in multiple-arc connection with motor B, with its field-magnet restored to its full strength. This will be accomplished by moving switch I) to the posito tion shown in dotted lines, where the circuit of A is entirely interrupted. The switch will then be turned to contact-plate Z and the switch Z1 turned to contact-plate 0. The switch-arm b may then be rapidly brought to r contact f where it will give the same connection as is obtained by 6 For the final step, motor A alone or motor B also may again have its field-magnet strength reduced to obtain a greater speed than would be possible with the two motors in multiple arc with their full field-magnet strength.

In Fig. 2 substantially the same arrange -ment of circuits is shown. The switch b however, is omitted, its function being per- 2 5 formed by moving the arm 1) onto a supplementary contact g, which is connected both to the switch d and to the outer field-magnet coil of A.

In Fig. 3 another arrangement for accomo plishing the same results is illustrated. In

this instance, however, the motor A. is shortcircuited by moving the switch I) onto the contact g, and it is then thrown into multiplearc connection bya further movement of the 5 switch I), so as to connect the plates 9 m Fig. 4 shows the same arrangement as Fig. 2, except that the switch d has a connection to main line X independent of the contactpiece 9 In Fig. 5 I proceed to show how the connections illustrated in the previous figures may be successively made by a single movement of the switch. In other words, the switch-arm b is provided with an operating connection 4 5 to switches cl and 0, so that they may be turn ed automatically after the switch I) has reached the point where it has cut out the whole of field-magnet A. In this figure also I have shown the two arinatures connected by a belt j, which indicates that they are both connected to the same driven mechanism, so as to cooperate in their action upon it. In the position of the switch shown in the figure both motors are in series. The arm I) is then moved so as to short-circuit successive sections of magnet A, and then as it passes from plate 9 the radial projection 0 throws the connected switches d 0 onto the plates Z m, respectively.

The two motors will then be in multiple arc. Fig. 6 shows an arrangement by which the field-magnet strength of motor A is reduced by a resistance f, which is gradually with drawn from a shunt around the field-magnet. In this arrangement the arm I) gradually short circuits the field-magnet A, then cuts it out of circuit, and by coming in contact with pin 0 it moves the arm B along with it until the latter connects with I, while the former rests upon m and g. This produces the same results accomplished by the arrangements previously described.

For practical useas, for instance, in the controlling of electric-railway motors-I have devised the apparatus illustrated in Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10. This consists of a cylinderswitch made up by placing a number of disks P upon the same shaft 0, so as to be operated together. Each of these disks consists of an insulating center, upon the periphery of which are placed a series of projections 9 spaced so as to make the desired connections when brought into contact with the respective stationary contact-pieces. One of these is illustrated in Fig. 10, and consists of two platesprings riveted to a conducting-block and adapted to extend into the path of the pro- 1 jections 9 so as to be separated and press upon the opposite sides of the said piece, making thus a good electrical connection therewith. The said stationary contacts are connected to various parts of the circuits, as will be seen, at the top of Fig. 7, where they are marked a a a, &c., a and a are connected to the two terminals, respectively, the former being also connected to the end coil of the field-magnet of motor B. a is connected to an intermediate point of the said field-magnet, and a to its opposite terminal. a is connected to one terminal of the fieldmagnet of motor A, a to an intermediate point of the said magnet, and a to the opposite terminal. a a a and a are connected, respectively, to the four terminals of the armature-circuits. I

The lower part of Fig. 7 indicates the connections which are established between the said stationarycontacts a a a 860., by means of the projections g as they are turned by shaft 0. The figures 1 2 3, &c., on the left of Fig. 7, indicate the successive positions of the switch, and consequently the different conditions. There are eleven different arrangements of the connections shown, although I am not confined to this number in the practice of my invention.

The same letters in different figures represent corresponding parts.

Two similar sets of con acts may be. arranged in reverse order upon each half of the switch-cylinder, permitting the same order of connections to be established in whichever direction the cylinder may be rotated, the currents through the armature being reversed with the opposite directions of rotation. This is shown in Fig. 9, but in the diagram of Fig. 7 only one-half is shown, for simplicity. Position one is the zero-point, the only connection being a short circuit around a portion of each field-magnet for the purpose of absorbing the extra current upon the breaking of the motor-circuit. In position 2 the arma tures and fields of both machines are con- IIO nected in series. In position 3 the same connections are shown as in position 2, with the exception that a portion of the field of each motor is short-circuited. Position 4 throws the fields of the motors in multiple, the armatures remaining in series. Position 5 shortcircuits a portion of each field-winding. Position 6 detaches one of the fields (that of B) from the circuit, leaving both the armatures in series with one field. Position 7 is the same as position 6, with the exception that fields are substituted, each for each, in order that the changes in the field-magnet strength may not always be made upon one magnet only. Position 8 cuts out entirely one of the motors, (in the diagram motor A,) leaving one-half of the field of B in circuit. It should be mentioned that in passing from 7 to S the distance between contacts g and h being less than the width of the contact-strips, the armature of the motor A is momentarily shortcircuited. Position 9 is the same as position 8, with the motors interchanged each for each. In position 10 both motors are in multiple, and in position 11 sections of the motor-fields are cut out for producing the final degree of speed. It will be seen that steps 6 and 7 produce no difierence in speed, likewise steps 8 and 0. The mutual substitution of the motor in these instances is for the purpose of more nearly equalizing the total amount of work which each motor is called upon to do-that is, equalizing the heat developed in each motor, should one motor at a time be called upon to do an excessive amount of work.

It is evident that the method of connection may be very greatly varied without departing from the principles of my inventionfor instance, more than one extra coil on the field-circuit could be used where but one is shown in this diagram. This method of coupling may also be applied to more than two motors.

The mechanisms hcreinbefore described I donot make claim to herein, as they will be made the subject of another application.

WVhat I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The method of removing an electric motor from series-connection with another motor connected to the same mechanism, which consists in reducing the counter electro-motive force in the armature of the motor to be removed and then short-circuitin g the said motor.

2. The method of removing an electric motor from a circuit in which it is in series with another motor geared to the same load, which consists in reducing the counter electro-motive force in the armature of the motor to be removed and then short circuiting the said motor.

Themethod of removing an electric mo= tor from a circuit in which it is in series with another motor connected to the same mechanism, which consists in reducing the coun ter electro-motive force of the motor to be removed by changing the field-magnet strength of the said motor and then short-circuiting it.

4. The method of controlling electricallypropelled mechanism which consists in providing two motors which are connected to said mechanism so as to co-operate in driving it, and then regulating the two motors by, first, placing them in series for a slow speed secondly, increasing the speed by changing the field-magnet strength of one or both motors, and, thirdly, short circuiting one motor after the counter electro-motive force in its armature has been reduced to a safe degree.

5. The method of controlling electricallypropelled mechanism, which consists in pro viding two motors which are connected to said mechanism so as to oo operate in driving it, and then regulating the two motors by, first, placing them in series for a slow speed; secondly, increasing the speed by changing the field-magnet strength of one or both motors; thirdly, short-circuiting one motor after the counter electro-motive force in its armature has been reduced to a safe degree, and, fourthly, placing the two motors in multiplearc connection.

6. The method of controlling electricallypropelled mechanism, which consists in providing two motors which are connected to said mechanism so as to co-operate in driving it, and then regulating the two motors by,

first, placing them in series for a slow speed; secondly, increasing the speed by changing the field-magnet strength of one or both motors; thirdly, short-circuiting one motor after the counter electro-motive force has been re duced to a safe degree; fourthly, placing the two motors in multiple-arc connection, and, fifthly, increasing the speed still further by varying the field-magnet strength of one or both of said motors, after they have been placed in multiple-arc connection.

7. The method of changing two motors from series to multiple-arc connection, which consists in reducing the counter electro motive force in the armature of one or both of said motors, short-circuiting one motor when its counter electro-motive force has been reduced to a safe degree, and then connecting the two motors in multiple arc. I

8. The method of controlling electricallyoperated mechanism, which consists in providing an electro-motive apparatus having two sources of counter electro-mot-ive force,

connecting these sources in series, reducing the electro-mot-ive force of one of said sources and short circuiting it, and then connecting the two sources in multiple are with their normal eleotro-motive force.

9. The method of controlling electricallyoperated mechanism, which consists in providing an eleotro-motive apparatus having two sources of counter electro-motive force, connecting these sources in series, reducing the electro-motive force of one of said sources Signed at Lynn, in the county of Essex and and short-circuiting it, and then connecting State of Massachusetts, this 4th day of Sep the tWo in multiple arc with their normal te1nber,A. D. 1889.

electro-motive force, and, finally, reducing MERLE J. XVIGHTMAN. 5 the counter electro-motive force of one or Witnesses:

both of the said sources for the last degree of JOHN WV. GIBBONEY,

regulation. A. B. NORRIS. 

